Tour of Utah 2015

One of our favorite traditions is watching the Tour of Utah each year. It's a seven day professional bike race that has achieved world-class status.

The opening ceremony is one of our favorite parts. The pro riders are introduced and they give away free stuff. Like these awesome glasses.

 This was the first day Krew started feeling normal after his tonsillectomy. It was so good to see him feeling like himself again.

 I was really bad this year about taking pictures of the pros but I did pretty good about taking pictures of this future pro. Krew does the kids' race every year. He loves it!

There are dozens of kids that participate in the race and to keep things fair, they break the kids up into age groups.

Krew and one other kid quickly broke away from the peloton. 

 They were neck and neck until the very end.

Krew ultimately took first. Newspaper/Media was waiting at the finish line and got Krew's information for the Park City Newspaper.

I love that Krew loves cycling just like his Dad. His future is bright!

Tour of Utah 2014

 The Tour of Utah is a pro cycling multiday race. Every year we go to as many stages as we can to cheer them on and it is like Christmas day for Jorden. I have to admit, I love attending this every year. It's one of the few professional sports where you get in for free, get front row seats, and often times get to meet and get autographs from the cyclists.

Because of the altitude and distance, the Tour of Utah is nicknamed "America's Toughest Stage Race". Amateurs can also do a certain portion of the race called the Ultimate Challenge. Jorden will be completing it in 2015.

They also have the kids races. Krew participated in the two kids races this year and absolutely loved it. I'm afraid we may have another future cycling addict on our hands!

Krew still had training wheels on during this race but was quickly motivated to get them off when he saw all the other kids with theirs off.

At the starting line! They use the same announcers for the kids race as they do for the professional cyclists. They made it so fun and got the crowd involved. It was so fun!

Krew crossing the finish line!

When the race was over, it was time to cheer on the professional riders. We headed up Little Cottonwood Canyon. The boys were just a little bit excited. 

 Notice Krew's Tour de France shirt? That is an authentic Tour shirt that came straight from France. Grandma and Grandpa Backman just returned from a trip from Le Tour de France and brought this home for Krew. He was so proud to wear it that day.

Myla wasn't as into the race as Krew was but she sure loved (and looked adorable) in this chair. 

 These rocks kept her entertained for quite a while. 

Look at that plump diaper!

Hanging with Grandma.

Everyone listens to the broadcasting and when they are getting close everyone swarms the streets and leaves just a little pathway for the cyclists to come through.

 The is one of Jorden's favorite cyclist, Jens Voigt, from Germany giving a high five to a fan. 

I love Superman on the left. Spectators get so into it just like they do during 

Le Tour de France. There were a lot of people dressed up.

 The next day, we headed to the stage in Park City, UT where Jorden and Blake pretended to be professionals.

 Myla

 and Krew wanted to feel like a professional too.

Myla keeping herself shaded.

Krew did his second race this day and he came in first place! He was one of the few with training wheels. Now that he has his training wheels off he is even faster.

I love the look this kid is giving Krew. Maybe it was envy for winning the race or maybe he's comparing who looks better in the same helmet?

Tour of Utah

It was that time of year again, the Tour of Utah, and we (mostly Jorden) didn't want to miss a thing! Professional bike races are notorious for spectators  dressing up and acting crazy. If you've ever watched the Tour de France you'd see all the crazies chasing after the cyclists. The tour of Utah isn't quite at that level but there are certainly a few crazy people! Krew's dressing up consisted of Uncle Blake's raccoon hat. If you ever want attention, just put on a raccoon hat. We literally got a comment from every single person that walked by Krew. "Cool hat bud!" "Wow! That is one neat hat!" "I wish I had a hat like that!" Krew felt pretty cool to say the least!

Krew, Uncle Blake, and the abominable snowman. 

 Krew's hat was so cool that the guy in charge of this race car let Krew sit inside. He told him he doesn't let just anyone sit in there, which made Krew's day!

 Maybe in a few years, or ten, you'll be able to reach those pedals! 

Krew getting ready for the riders to come by. He had a whole box of donuts on his lap and he snuck a Coke from the cooler. Good thing it was the mini Cokes!

When we knew the riders were about to come by Krew claimed the best seat in the house.

 A professional rider coming by. Nope, I have no idea who he is but I'm sure he's important!

 Some more important people!

They were so important that they were being filmed by helicopter. The Tour of Utah is actually broadcasted to 49 countries outside the US.

 When we came home and watched the DVR we were shown for about 5 seconds cheering on the sidelines. So yes, we were shown in 50 countries. We're pretty famous.

 It was a fun day. And Krew now knows what he wants to be when he grows up! A professional cyclist! Although Krew says being a professional race car driver would be pretty cool too!

Bike Race Galore!

It has been two whole months since I've blogged! I spilled just a little bit of water on my computer, and it fried it. Luckily it was a week AFTER I graduated! But I still wanted to die without it! Now with a new computer, I have a lot of catching up to do with no drinks by me! A lot has happened since my last post. I've graduated from the LPN program, we found out the gender of our baby (more on those topics later), and a lot of bike rides! This post is dedicated to the bike races over the past few months. The first one was a century ride in Brigham City called Cure de Tour. Jorden, Jorden's Dad, Jorden's brother Chet, and Jorden's friend Drew rode in this one. All the wives were the cheer team. Suanne, Chelsea, and I were afraid we were going to miss the boys take off because when trying to do a U-turn, the truck's entire wheel went right into a two-foot deep gutter, and try and we may, we couldn't get it out! Luckily Brad had just enough time to come over and get the truck out for us poor girls!

 Who makes gutters this deep anyway?!

Luckily we made it over in time for a little pep talk before the race,

 and several good luck kisses!

 

Brad

 Jorden

 Cute couple, Chelsea and Chet.

I only got pictures at the beginning of the race on this one.

To say that Krew loves to watch all the guys in their bike races would be a huge understatement! He loves everything bike related! He gets so excited when Jorden's biking magazines come in the mail. I catch Krew flipping through it all the time, picking out his future bike!

 And a few weeks ago I caught him hiding beside my bed secretly watching a bike race on TV.

The Next race was in Idaho Falls, put on by Mountain View Hospital. It was also a century ride. This time we didn't see them off at the start line but instead waited at the finishing line. We brought Krew's bike to keep him entertained. I have a feeling it won't be too much longer before he is actually riding in the races!

Ok. I just stared at this picture for about 20 minutes! I just think these are the two cutest boys in the world. (Even when all sweaty!)

It was during this race that Brad and Chet crashed. Chet had a seat print on his chest and was all scraped up. Brad ended up fracturing his elbow. Even with all that, they still finished!

Krew loves his Grandpa!

Drew, Jorden, Krew, Brad, Chet, and Sage 

I would not be smiling if I just just crashed my bike! Or rode a 100 miles for that matter!

A few weeks later, Krew and I joined Jorden in Utah to watch/follow the Tour of Utah. Also called America's Toughest Stage Race. Jorden was determined to meet his favorite professional riders and he definitely did! 

We were able to stay at Jorden's Grandparents' house. Grandma Jane gave Krew this cool new hat. It's meant to go in pots but Krew thought it made the coolest hat!

I think he looked pretty darn cool too!

 At the starting line!

They had an autograph row that all the riders walked through before the race. It was here we got to see all the professionals. Here is David Zabriskie. Rider and inventor of "DZ Nuts". I won't go too far into detail, but those seats sure are small and not very comfortable. I guess this cream works wonders.

I love how Krew is staring in awe!

I didn't know who most of these people were when I was snapping pictures, but Jorden assured me they were very important people! 

Jens Voigt a rider from Germany.

Jorden's main goal was to get a picture with his favorite rider, Levi Leipheimer. We were so excited when he stopped to take this picture. The rest of the day in the car Krew would chant, "Go Levi, Go Levi, Go!"

 While Levi was getting interviewed, Jorden said, "Wow you need a close up of those legs! Those things are incredible!"

 So here it is! Very muscular, hairless legs!

Chris Horner

Christian Vandevelde

Getting ready to take off!

This part of the race started in the morning and it was already so hot! You can see Krew's little forehead  dripping with sweat! But he was so excited to be there with all the bike racers, I don't think he even noticed how hot he was.

The riders rode about 100 miles everyday for a week. Some days were up to 130 miles. We stopped at several of the starts and finishes. But in between each stop we had do some entertaining for Krew. So first we stopped at The Aquarium in Draper.

 Playing with the river otter.

Me: "Krew look at me so I can take your picture!"

Krew's look says it all, "Ok Mom, but this is too cool to look away!"

He loved the shark,

 And this giant tortoise.

The famous shark jaws!

 I love how they always conveniently put the gift store right at the exit. Full of things like, key chains for $20. Krew still had fun looking, and trying on this shark mask.

Our next stop was Alpine, where we could see the racers ride through. Here they had booths of all kinds. And a band playing in the park. We stopped at this tattoo booth for Krew to get a, you'll never guess...

 a batman tattoo! He was so serious about it. He was too cool (and tired) to smile!

This jump house was packed with kids for most of the time we were there. Then all of a sudden it was empty, so Krew had the whole thing to himself!

We had a blast following the Tour of Utah. All of these bike races, both watching and participating were in preparation for LOTOJA. The 206 miles bike race from Logan, Utah to Jackson, Wyoming. Stay tuned for the next post!